Why a GCC, and why now
Global Capability Centers have moved from cost arms to strategic engineering and product hubs. Boards now expect GCCs to own roadmaps, not just execute tickets.
Phase 1 — Foundations (Month 0–3)
Lock the entity structure, leadership profile and a 24-month talent plan before any req goes live.
- Entity setup: subsidiary vs. EOR vs. BOT
- Site selection: Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, NCR, Chennai
- Leadership archetype: builder vs. operator
Phase 2 — Anchor hires (Month 3–6)
The first 10 hires define the center's identity. Over-invest in the site lead, engineering head and a senior TA partner.
Phase 3 — Scale pods (Month 6–18)
Build around clear charters. Avoid generic 'capacity' pods — they erode quality and ownership.
Common pitfalls
Cost-first city selection, under-hiring leadership, and treating the GCC as a delivery wing are the three mistakes we see most often.